Thursday, May 27, 2010

Armchair BEA: Novel Destinations Give-away!

As many have already discussed on "real" BEA posts as well as these "virtual" posts --- meeting the authors and having them sign their newest books is always a highlight of the Expo Experience. Now, I am a rather shy person, so it was a big deal for me just to stand in line - try think of something to say to the author that didn't sound like a bumbling idiot - and then not trip over myself as I walked away. But last year I attempted something even more daring: I asked a couple of the authors if they wouldn't mind signing two books -- one for me and one for a giveaway on my blog. And do you know what I discovered?! They are only more than happy to do so! In fact, many of them talked about how much they enjoy book blogs, how integral book bloggers are to the success of authors, and they requested that I send them a link to my review. I was in awe and learned that the truth of the old adage, "The worst that can happen is that they can say no."

Well, once I returned from BEA 2009 life happened and as a result, I still have a couple of those books that I received last year sitting on my shelves. So, I plan to give away one here in honor of BEA 2010 -- and then I plan to give away the other this fall during Carl's RIP challenge (which I will assume that he will host again!)

I love to travel - and I love to read - so this book is like paradise to me. In fact last year I hosted my first reading challenge, the Summer Vacation Reading Challenge, where I encouraged participants to take a literary vacation to any destination of choice. While there are several "novel destinations" detailed in this book that I would love to visit someday (Jane Austen's cottage in Chatsworth, the Brontes house is Haworth, Thoreau's Walden Pond and Alcott's Orchard House, both in Concord, MA -- just to name a few), I am content with reading about them in detail and daydreaming about the tours that I would take, the bed-and-breakfast where I would sleep, and the meals that I would eat. There are even suggestions for other sites of interest in the area. To read a more detailed description of my experience with these two lovely authors, please visit my summary post here.

If you love reading - and armchair traveling as much as I do - then I encourage you to enter this modest give away. In the comments section, please tell me which "novel destination" you would most like to visit and why. Be sure to leave a valid email address so that I contact the winner.

This contest will be open for one week (just in case any "real" BEA attendees would like to enter) and I will select the winner using random.org on Friday, June 4, 2010. Good luck to all - and I look forward to hearing your literary vacation dreams!

awesome giveaway, I too like to "armchair travel" :) I think my "novel destination" would be Attolia from Megan Whalen Turners Thief series, I would die and go to heaven if I ever were given the chance to meet Eugenides, and I would love to meet the Queen of Attolia as well!

I have always wanted to go to Ireland, so when ever I see a book set there, whether the country or the gritty streets of Dublin, I snatch it up. Come to think of it, I also read a fair amount of Irish writers, even if their books aren't set in Ireland. It is an obsession I tell ya.

Thanks for your wonderful giveaway. I am enjoying following new bloggers as the result of ArmchairBEA10! I would travel to the Ecuadoran Andes as do the characters in The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau. I am mbreeves@gmail.com or librarymat on Twitter. Cheers!

I wasn't even thinking of Prince Edward Island until I saw the first comment on here, but I've always wanted to see it - I love the Anne books. Aside from that I'd love to tour literary locations in Europe. I don't have any one spot in mind, but it would sure be fun to do a literary tour. :)

Oh jeez, where to choose? Definitely Guernsey...I was ready to move there after reading the book. Anywhere in England actually, and even better if it included some gothic mansions (how about the one from Rebecca?). Thanks for the giveaway! Very exciting! rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com

Well, my novel destination would be Red Cloud, NE -- the town where Willa Cather lived and which, of course, influenced her writing. I'm wondering if that would be in your book? Nebraska is probably not quite as much of a tourist destination as some of the others mentioned, but in a way, that appeals to me. Thanks for the giveaway; I'd love to enter (& win)!

Oh, so many! I have not been to Charleston and would love to go for the same reasons another follower indicatd. Civil War books have always been a passion of mine. This book sounds very interesting. Please, enter me in your giveaway.

What an awesome giveaway!!! My one place I really want to go these days is Hogwarts and now that they have this fantasy land, I may get to at least pretend someday!! As for other places, I'm not sure!! Maybe this book would help me figure out everyone I really do want to go!! :)

Oh, I love everyone's ideas for literary vacations; I'd jump on a plane (bus, boat, train ...) in a jiffy to get to any of them. But I'm also a lover of the outdoors, so my novel destination -- and one I don't think has been mentioned yet -- is the Channel Islands of southern California. The setting of Scott O'Dell's unforgettable story based on a true story: "The Island of the Blue Dolphins".oldsockfarm AT gmail D0T com

There are many places I'd love to visit based on what I've read; but the first that comes to mind here is Atlanta -- because of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. I'm most interested in the historical parts of Atlanta!

Oh my goodness...literary destinations? Can i choose them all? What a fantastic idea for a book! And I love your original post about bea from last year - I so want to read the book the physick book of deliverance dane! so salem, Massachusetts is on my list; and Anne of Green Gables is also one of my favorite series of all time so Prince Edward Island is a definite too! And oh, if only I could visit Hogwarts! I'd want to be in Gryffindor of course!